Lavant 0 Fishbourne 3

A 25 yard wonder strike by the visitors and two badly defended corners by Lavant gave Fishbourne 3 points at The Green.

The scoreline did not reflect the game and flattered the visitors as the best flowing and passing football came from the homeside in the first 25 mins.

Tom Parker puts in the tackle

Having closed down and blocked every central Fishbourne assault, it was ironic that the one time this wasn’t done, Fishbourne’s Gary Jones was allowed space to hit a 25 yard 36 min winner from outside the “D”. But that cannot take anything away from the skill and spectacular strike into the top corner.

The second half continued in the same vein but constant Fishbourne pressure forced a great save from ‘keeper, Chris Bowles, and a series of corners. Lavant switched off on one of them and Darren Cox scored a simple goal on 55 mins.

Alan Sheppard battling to be first to the ball

At 2-0 down, manager, David Parker, threw 3 strikers forward which opened up the game and great awareness by Fishbourne ‘keeper, Ashley Rochester, kept Fishbourne with a clean sheet.

Down the other end, another badly defended corner allowed substitute, David Turner to head home Fishbourne’s third 12mins from the final whistle to secure the points.

Captain and man of the match Mike Neville

Lavant: C.Bowles, T.Sheppard, D.Kennard, M.Hine, D.Hall, M.Neville, B.Evans, T.Parker, L.Weller, A.Sheppard, A.Yaxley. Subs: D.Knight, G.Ockwell, J.Perry

Saturday’s Results

21st November

Centenary Cup: Third round:
Lancing Utd 1, Newtown Villa 2
Stedham Utd 1, West Chiltington 3
Partridge Green 3, Wittering Utd 0.

Bareham Trophy: Second round:
Barnham III 2, Rustington Park Snrs 6
Fishbourne II 4, Vapours FC 0
Harting 1, Boxgrove 4
Square Deal FC 4, Rogate 08 0
The Ship 6, Yapton II 5
Watersfield II 8, Fernhurst II 0.

Division 1:
Ashington Rovers 5, Henfield 3
Lavant 0, Fishbourne 3
Hunston CC 1, Faygate Utd 5.

Division 4 South:
Milland 0, Ambassadors 7
Tangmere 3, Highdown Hornets 2.

Div IV Charity Cup
Lavant Reserves 5 Horsham Trinity Reserves 2

In the showery rain and high winds Lavant Reserves confidently dealt with the elements and Horsham Trinity to secure their place into the next round of the Divisional cup.

Lavant started the game playing against the wind, but this did not prove to be a disadvantage as with only 10 minutes gone Shay Wiggins pass set Ryan Seacombe free down the flank and whip a cross into the box, which was met by the outstretched foot of striker Adam Yaxley, as he directed the ball into the back of the Horsham net, 1-0.

Ten minutes later Lavant were awarded a penalty following some good possession football as Guy Pinder laid the ball off to Chris Coe who picked out Wiggin’s with a long diagonal ball, who in turn crossed the ball to the waiting Tom Sheppard just yards out and certain to score. That is until he was hastily brought down from behind earning a stone wall penalty. Seacombe stepped up and decisively converted the spot kick, doubling Lavant’s lead, 2-0

Seacombe was again involved in Lavant’s third goal on 30 minutes, as he took two players on in the area before laying off the unmarked Wiggins who drove the ball home from the edge of the box, giving the keeper no chance, 3-0.

There was still more to come from Lavant in a half they dominated and with only minutes remaining to the interval Seacombe’s cross once more caused havoc in the box, as two Horsham players collided with Yaxley Snr as the ball fell free, with Scott Yaxley quickest to react smashing the ball home just inside the box, 4-0.

Horsham started the second half in earnest and within minutes sparked a mini revival as they pushed forward pressing the Lavant goal and in a hurried effort to defend a cross defender Martin Smith inadvertently placed the ball past goalkeeper Tom Turner, giving the visitor’s hope of a comeback, 4-1.

The next 30 minutes drew a stalemate as Lavant sat back and reorganised themselves determined to maintain their lead as Horsham tried in vain to get back into the game. The deadlock was however eventually broken on 75 minutes by the homeside when Justin Walsh’s persistence paid off as he won the ball on the edge of the visitors box and picked out substitute Graeme Bell, who weaver past two defenders and slotted the ball home from a tight angle, 5-1.

With 5 minutes remaining Lavant gifted the visitors a late consolation goal following a misunderstanding between defender Chris Coe and keeper Turner, as both players left the ball for each other as a lofted free-kick in the goal area went unchallenged and ended in the back of the net, 5-2.

Team: T. Turner, C.Coe, J.Strange, T.Sheppard, M.Smith, S.Yaxley, G.Pinder, S.Massey, S.Wiggins, R.Seacombe, A.Yaxley. Subs: G.Bell, D.Morris, J.Walsh.

Saturday’s Results

14th November

The weather put pay to every fixture in the West Sussex league apart from 5 games this weekend and one of the five games that survived was Lavant Reserves game against Horsham Trinity, credit goes to Raughmere park and our Parish Council groundsman Mark Goulding.

Chichester Charity Cup: Second round:
Lodsworth 7, Newtown Villa II 1.

Division Four Cup: Second round:
Lavant II 5, Horsham Trinity II 2.

Division 2 North: 
Fittleworth 2, Newdigate 2.

Division 3 North:
Slinfold 3, Pulborough II 1.

Division 4 North:
Upper Beeding II 5, Wisborough Green II 2.

Lavant 2 Angmering 4
Malcolm Simmonds Cup

Lavant bowed out of the Malcolm Simmonds cup at the second round, after a keenly contested match which saw Angmering battling back twice from a goal down to eventually seal their win early in the second half.

Lavant started the game brightly and after 5 minutes were rewarded for their continuous pressure, as Matt Hine converted a free-kick on the edge of the visitor’s area, 1-0.

The homeside perhaps a little to keen to add to their tally pushed forward for the second immediately from the restart, which somewhat left them vulnerable at the back to counterattacks and with 18 minutes gone some scrambled defending saw Lavant concede a penalty, which Stan Elder duly dispatched, allowing Angmering to get a foothold back into the game, 1-1.

Lavant to their credit did not let this setback deter them and again from the restart they pushed forward at every opportunity. Then five minutes later the ever green Matt Court went on a probing run deep into the visitors box causing havoc with their defence resulting with the ball falling to the feet of Dave Kennard who placed the ball past keeper Fuller from close range, 2-1.

Minutes later Angmering were once more level as Lavant failed to defend the visitors route one approach, as striker Ashley Durham latched on to the long ball heading home from ten yards out, 2-2.

Six minutes before half time all Lavant’s hard work counted for nothing as the visitors took the lead for the first time in the match, following some miss communication between the homeside’s players Elder capitalized doubling his tally, scoring from 12 yards out, 2-3.

The second half proved to be a much less exciting affair as Angmering within minutes of the restart extended their lead with a well worked goal, as the Lavant defence were caught out of position, Durham latched onto a fine cross field ball, scoring past the stranded Bowles in the Lavant goal, 2-4.

In an effort to get something out of the cup tie stand in 1st team manager’s Mike Kent and Cliff Massey made all three substitutions, bringing on Daryl Hall, Ross Lines and Louis Weller.

The remaining 40 minutes of the game however ended in stalemate as Angmering adequately dealt with everything Lavant could conjure up, resulting with them in the end comfortably progressing into the next round of the cup, leaving Lavant out of all cup competitions this season and with now only the league to concentrate all their efforts on.

Team: C.Bowles, G.Ockwell, B.Thomas, M.Court, M.Hine, M.Neville(C), B.Evans, D.Kennard, J.Perry, D.Knight, A.Sheppard. Subs: D.Hall, L.Weller, R.Lines.

Saturday’s Results

7th November

Malcolm Simmonds Memorial Cup: Second round:
Cowfold 5, Watersfield 1
Henfield 3, Clymping Res 1
Lancing Utd 2, Fishbourne 1
Lavant 2, Angmering 4
Partridge Green 0, Barnham 4
Southwater 2, Petworth 1.

Division Four Cup: Second round:
Lodsworth II 2, Upper Beeding II 5.

Division 1:
West Chiltington 4, Faygate Utd 1
Wittering II 2, Hunston CC 5.

Division 4 South:
Coal Exchange 3, Ambassadors 3
Milland 4, Tangmere 5
Selsey FC A 2, Yapton II 8.

Saturdays game verses Hunston was a hard fought battle between two local rivals, which saw Lavant’s up to now relatively good diciplinary record blow out the water over night, as both Alan and Tom collected a booking each and Ben Thomas got sent off.

None of the cards were for incidents in play, but were for dissent as deemed by referee Barry Cox.

You never win an argument with the referee even if your right. A costly lesson to learn perhaps.

Tom Sheppard always has to copy his old brother Alan

Lavant 4 Hunston CC 4

An overconfident switched-off second half spell by Lavant lost them the 3 points they could have collected from this Div One match.

Alan Sheppard and Dave Kennard (far) surrounded by the Hunston defence

Hunston went ahead with their first attack of the game when Ross Fraser’s wonderful strike soared into the top corner of the net only 2 minutes into the game. From then on Lavant dominated the game to give striker Alan Sheppard his hat-trick with goals on 22, 24 and 36 minutes.

Tom Parker wins the aerial battle

Then at the restart came the quarter hour of absenteeism that let Hunston back in the match. With breakaway goals by Ian Newham on 51minutes and Shaun Jenkins 61 on minutes, belief now returned to the visitors.

Matt Price on the ball

Lavant raised their game, it looked like the match was heading for a draw. Then a clash between Lavant keeper, Chris Bowles, and the Hunston striker allowed substitute Olly Young to put the Manhood side 4-3 ahead with only 5 minutes remaining.

Skipper Mike Neville has a close chat with the referee.

Lavant were then reduced to 10 men as the incensed Ben Thomas received a straight red card for continually arguing with the referee over his decision not to award a free-kick for an infringement on the goalkeeper, which led to Hunston’s fourth goal.

With only minutes remaining on the clock, keeper Bowles ran into the opponent’s penalty area for a Lavant corner, topping the cross on with his head for substitute, Shaun Massey, to head the deserved equaliser at the far post with 60 seconds left on the clock.

Team: C.Bowles, T.Shepppard, B.Thomas, M.Court, D.Hall, M.Neville(C), T.Parker, D.Kennard, J.Perry, D.Knight, A.Sheppard. Subs: M.Price, M.Hine, S.Massey.

Saturday’s Results

31st October

Division 1:
Henfield 2, Watersfield 0
Lavant 4, Hunston CC 4
Partridge Green 2, Ashington Rovers 6
West Chiltington 4, Fishbourne 0
Wittering Utd 0, Faygate Utd 5.

Division 4 South:
Ambassadors 2, Highdown Hornets 2
Fishbourne II 2, Selsey FC A 2
Tangmere 4, Coal Exchange 4
Yapton II 7, Milland 1.

Lavant 2 Faygate United 2

Lavant this week hosted a confident Faygate side still on a high from their victory the previous week against rivals Watersfield. But it was in fact Lavant who actually started the game the better showing a much higher level of commitment and determination which somewhat subdued the visitors game plan.

Then on 15 minutes and against the run of play Faygate took a surprising lead following a very dubious offside decision. The Faygate striker clearly appeared to be offside, but with no clear flag from the linesman, referee Richard Sergeant waved play on as Lavant’s defence stopped still arguing the decision allowing Liam Broxup to run through and round keeper Chris Bowles to score into an empty net, 0-1.

The goal now allowed the visitors to get a foothold into the game and the remainder of the half was more evenly contested. But slowly and surely Lavant started to threaten Faygate’s goal once more and right on half time.

Matt Price’s cross found Alan Sheppard clear of the defence but he was judged to be offside, then with seconds remaining Ross Line’s goal bound volley was somehow palmed to safety by keeper Martin Jepson.

Lavant’s half time team talk was one about self belief and this seemed to focus the squad as they produced a hard working second half performance which once more saw Faygate on the back foot.

The increased tempo of the team eventually told as Ben Thomas’s lofted ball over the visitors defence was met by Sheppard who skilfully rounded the out-coming keeper and scored, drawing the team’s level on 66 minutes.

The homeside then deservedly took the lead 17 minutes later when man of the match Dave Kennard picked out Sheppard who to skilfully lob the ball over the keeper from the edge of the box, 2-1.

Lavant from the restart tried to see out the remainder of the game and everything was going to plan until they conceded a free kick 30 yards out with just minutes to go. The subsequent free kick was then lofted deep into the area where full back Greg Bolt smashed home the equaliser, 2-2.

The remaining couple of minutes were tense as both sides searched for the winner and Lavant nearly snatched all three points at the death, as Kennard’s header rattled the crossbar and the rebound found him a yard out with only the keeper to beat, but as at the end of the first half keeper Jepson pulled off a great save to deny Lavant once more.

Team: C.Bowles, T.Shepppard, B.Thomas, M.Court, C.Coe, R.Lines, T.Parker, D.Kennard, M.Price, D.Knight, A.Sheppard. Subs: M.Smith, L.Weller, S.Gooding. Linesman J.Wawrzewski.

Ambassadors 1 Lavant Reserves 1

Lavant this week travelled to Bognor, perhaps slightly too over confident of bagging all three points as they faced the current bottom of the league side Ambassadors.

But their optimism was short lived when the combination of a spectacular own goal and the defending of a resolute Ambassadors side ensured they had to settle for one point as the honours were even at the final whistle.

The first half was evenly contested, but both teams seldom threaten each others goals as most of the play was fought out in the middle of the pitch. The breakthrough however eventually came for the homeside on 15 minutes, with Lavant down to 10 men as right-back Neale Watts received treatment off the pitch, a tentative cross into the box was hastily met by the outstretched foot of debutant left back Martin Pullen, resulting in the ball curling up and over his own keeper Tom Turner and into the back of the net, 1-0.

At half time manager Mel Milburn made some tactical changes which saw Lavant up the tempo immediately from the re-start and for much of the second half they forced Ambassador’s onto the back foot as they hastily defended their own goal in order to hold onto their slender lead.

The visitors deservedly made the pressure count finally in the 80th minute with their best move of the match, as Shaun Massey picked out Robbie Pinder from the half way line, who chested the ball down to Shay Wiggins, who slotted the ball past the full-back allowing Pinder to run through and calmly slot the ball home past the outcoming keeper, 1-1.

The remaining 10 minutes saw Lavant continue to pile on the pressure in the desperate search for the winner, but Ambassadors had other ideas, as they successfully saw out the remainder of the game, thankful for the draw, as they claimed only their second point of the season.

Team: T. Turner, M.Pullen, G.Pinder, J.Walsh, N.Watts, C.Swain, D.Maclean, S.Massey, S.Wiggins, R.Pinder, A.Yaxley. Subs: G.Bell, D.Morris, M.Milburn.

Saturday’s Results

24th October

Division 1:
Angmering 8, Wittering Utd 0
Faygate Utd 2, Lavant 2
Fishbourne 3, Henfield 2
Hunston CC 0, West Chiltington 2
Partridge Green 3, Watersfield 1.

Division 4 South:
Ambassadors 1, Lavant Reserves 1
Highdown Hornets 1, Coal Exchange 4
Tangmere 3, Yapton II 1
Milland 0, Fishbourne II 5.

During the Reserve game against Lodsworth Reserves on the 3rd October, man of the match and scorer of two goals Shaun Massey demonstrated his own personal goal celebration routine.

For him and the whole team the game was a memorable performance, a resounding 5-0 win.

What about the Goal Celebration?

Perhaps we should make more of a celebration when scoring a goal.
Look forward to seeing the next routine, one of many we hope.

However manager Cliff Massey seemed less impressed with Massey junior’s goal celebration routine. Cliff gave a look of ??????

Centenary Cup
Lavant 2 Cowfold 3

Premiership Cowfold got off to a thunderous start in this Centenary Cup second round game as striker, Tim Martin put them 2-0 up with goals on 6 and 10 minutes.The homeside were mentally still in the dressing room but showed tremendous character to fight back from such a set back.

Dave Kennard first to the ball

Dave Knight forced a fingertip save from Cowfold ‘keeper, James Fisher and Ben Evans headed just over before teammate Dave Kennard headed Lavant back into the game 11 minutess from the interval.

Joe Perry wins the ball

Lavant continued to force the pace of the game after the restart and deserved their equaliser when Evans finished off a delightful move in the 78th minutes.

Ben Even delicate chip past the keeper from Ross Line’s cross

The Chichester side’s inexperience let Cowfold restore their lead only 2 minutes later as Luke Tarrant darted between two Lavant defenders to ensure Cowfold’s progress to the next round.

Dave Knight’s aerial battle up front

Team: C.Bowles, T.Shepppard, B.Thomas, M.Hine, G.Ockwell, M.Neville, B.Evans, D.Kennard, J.Perry , D.Knight, T.Parker. Subs: M.Price, R.Lines, C.Coe. Linesman D.Morris.

Saturday’s Results

17th October

Centenary Cup: Second round:
Ambassadors 2, Whyke Utd 1
Angmering 5, Newdigate 0
Capel 4, Ockley 1
Lavant 2, Cowfold 3
Predators 3, Partridge Green 5
The Ship 1, Hunston CC 5
West Chiltington 3, Fishbourne 2
Wittering Utd 7, Square Deal FC 2.

Bareham Trophy:
First round: Fishbourne II 4, Angmering II 1.

Division 1:
Henfield 1, Ashington Rovers 5
Watersfield 0, Faygate Utd 1.

Division 4 South:
Milland 1. Lodsworth II 3
Tangmere 2, Selsey FC A 1
Yapton II 10, Coal Exchange 1.

Lavant Reserves 5 Lodsworth Reserves 0

For the first time this season manager Cliff Massey was able to field a strong squad and this was reflected in the final score, as Lavant convincingly bagged all three points.

The homeside started well straight from kick-off forcing Lodsworth to defend their goal for most of the opening ten minutes of the game.

Lavant’s breakthrough came with 12 minutes gone when Graeme Bell was felled in the box and was awarded a penalty by referee Mick Ryan, to the dismay of the visitors. Adam Yaxley stepped up and converted the spot kick, giving Lavant the early lead, 1-0.

Minutes later Lavant went further ahead as Scot Yaxley rode a strong challenge on the left wing, breaking free of the defence and then picking out brother Adam in the box with his cross, who confidently blasted the ball home past the stranded keeper, 2-0.

With the homeside now well in control of the game they continued to test the visitors defence and with just minutes remaining before half time Lodsworth conceded a throw-in on the left flank in line with the goal area. Bell seizing the initiative quickly lofts the ball into the area Rory Delap style catching the defence off guard, as Shaun Massey runs into the box unchallenged to equisetally head home past the stranded keeper, 3-0.

Lavant started the second half in a similar manner to the first, but with Lodsworth now working hard to try and somehow get back into the game the third quarter of the match was much more evenly contested as the score remained unchanged.

With 20 minutes to go on the clock Cliff Massey decided to changed things around bringing on all three subs, Justin Walsh, Stuart Eastwood and Tom Sheppard. The changes took effect almost immediately as Tom Sheppard playing in an unfamiliar centre forward role was quickest to act in a goal mouth scramble, chasing down the ball and scoring from close range, 4-0.

Lavant’s resounding victory was capped off by a second goal from man of the match Shaun Massey, as he won the ball in the middle of the park, playing a one two with Walsh on the edge of the box, then holding of a challenge from a Lodsworth defender before driving the ball home into the corner of the goal, 5-0.

Manager Massey Senior commented after the game ” the team has produced a resounding victory today, but credit should also go to the defensive four of Chris Coe, Martin Smith and the Pinder brothers Guy and Robbie, plus keeper Tom Turner for keeping our first clean sheet of the season.”

Team: T. Turner, C.Coe, R.Pinder, G.Pinder, M.Smith, S.Yaxley, D.Maclean, S.Massey, S.Wiggins, G.Bell, A.Yaxley. Subs: S.Eastwood, T.Sheppard, J.Walsh.

Saturday’s Results

10th October

Bareham Trophy:
Boxgrove 12, Ambassadors 2
Harting 10, Milland 1
Watersfield II 9, Pulborough II 2.

Division 1:
Angmering 2, Faygate Utd 1.

Division 4 South:
Coal Exchange 4, Selsey FC A 1
Highdown Hornets 1, Yapton II 1
Lavant Reserves 5, Lodsworth II 0
Tangmere 3, Fishbourne II 2.

Saturday’s Results

3rd October

Division I:
Ashington Rovers 1, Fishbourne 3
Henfield 1, Hunston CC 3
Lavant 0, West Chiltington 7
Partridge Green 1, Angmering 5
Watersfield 6, Wittering Utd 0.

Division IV South:
Lodsworth II 2, Tangmere 7
Yapton II 4, Ambassadors 2.